David Ward blog post written by John Hilley


By MatthewHarris
February 14, 2013
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To Jennifer Lipman's very interesting article on David Ward (http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/102445/lib-dems-could-remove-whip-jews...) can be added an intriguing PS: Mr Ward's latest "Israel" blog posting (http://davidward.org.uk/en/article/2013/659668/guardian-continues-the-ho...) was written not by Mr Ward, but by a Mr John Hilley, who blogs at "Zenpolitics" (http://johnhilley.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1 http://johnhilley.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1). Mr Ward credits this "source" at the bottom of the piece on his site, and there on Mr Hilley's site (http://johnhilley.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/guardian-continues-hounding-of-...) is indeed the very piece that Mr Ward reproduced word for word on his own site, all about how Mr Ward is apparently being "hounded" by Zionist liberals who write for the Guardian. Who in Mr Ward's office can possibly imagine that this was useful to his cause? One must assume that Team Ward saw Mr Hilley's piece and thought: "At last! A commentator who has written supportively about David Ward!" What is there to say?

COMMENTS

Rich Armbach

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:17

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-1 points

" is there really a place for a liar in the liberal democrat party … "

Well if the Likud party can have the widely acknowledged mother of all liars why can't the libdems have David Ward ?

Ben F

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 13:54

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-3 points

if liberal democrat mp david ward is not a liar, then who is?

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/390137_137218236427065_12879...

Jonathan Hoffman

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 14:24

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0 points

The original statement remains on Ward’s website and therefore his apology has no credibility. Until Ward loses the Whip many feel that no-one should have anything to do with the LDs - let alone vote for them.

Rich Armbach

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 14:40

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-1 points

How many ?

zaheerayin

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:41

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-3 points

Bollocks. The statement needs to stay there so people can see what he's apologising for.

Did someone spank you and lock you in a closet, Jonathan? You seem to need a lot of revenge in your life. What has happened to you that you're such a vengeful person? Are you so damaged that you need to punish people beyond what's rational because you can't see when enough is enough? I'm concerned about this pattern of zealous punishing of others that you've displayed over the years.

zaheerayin

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:44

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-3 points

Making unpleasant things disappear doesn't change the fact that they exist or have merit. Think about it.

Ben F

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:44

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-2 points

What's really funny is the dumbo actually thinks these things do disappear. He also thinks that because there's no timing on a blog post, that the times when he posts blogs on the public dime is not being monitored.

You forgot some, Joshua.

http://images.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=active&site=&tbm=isch&source=...

Mary in Brighton

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 17:09

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-2 points

I am more concerned about his need to endlessly punish himself.

Harvey

Thu, 02/21/2013 - 17:25

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1 point

Are you aware of this new development Matthew
. http://hurryupharry.org/2013/02/20/david-ward-promotes-apologists-for-hi...

Ward posting an open letter from Leslie Bravery New Zealand PSC .
Bravery is a regular contributor to de Liberation , a virulently antisemitic website

happygoldfish

Tue, 02/26/2013 - 19:32

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0 points
neither clegg nor the whips (although they have mildly censured him for his holocaust comparison) seem to have been bothered by the lie he told, about "atrocities"

as you yourself said, matthew (http://matthewfharris.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/david-ward-talks-offensive-...) …

As for Mr Ward's comments on the Holocaust, I'd be interested to read precise details of how, within a few years of the Holocaust, "the Jews" carried out "atrocities on Palestinians in the new State of Israel and continue to do so on a daily basis in the West Bank and Gaza."
Upon reading the history of Arabs living in the new State of Israel (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_citizens_of_Israel), I do not see anything about "atrocities" - perhaps Mr Ward could enlighten me?
When I read Amnesty International's latest annual report on the Palestinian territories (http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/israel-occupied-palestinian-territories...), I read much that concerns me, but I do not read about "(atrocities) on a daily basis in the West Bank and Gaza".

matthew, would you please draw the whips' attention to another lie on david ward's website, at http://davidward.org.uk/en/article/2012/639755/david-ward-mp-s-west-bank... …

In the second area, that of water control, the policy of controlling water is plain for all to see. As we drove along the road heading north we could see, time and time again, the small Bedouin farmers with bare, scrappy land on which there were a few goats or sheep whilst on the other side of the road we could for mile after mile see lush, green plantations and crops - surrounded by security fencing - that were being farmed by the Israeli settlers.

If this is not ethnic cleansing, then what is?

(even if this were a fair comparison, which it almost certainly isn't …)

"ethnic cleansing" is a charge habitually made against israel by racists, apparently oblivious of the need for some element of reduction in population

if the racists are to be believed, israelis are either the most clever or the most incompetent ethnic cleansers in the whole world … they've for decades been ethnically cleansing a population which is inexorably increasing!

it is regrettable that neither clegg nor the whips seem bothered by ward's lie about atrocities, nor ward's lie about ethnic cleansing

is there really a place for a liar in the liberal democrat party … especially if his lies are only about israel and/or jews?

if liberal democrat mp david ward is not a liar, then who is?

happygoldfish

Thu, 02/28/2013 - 18:55

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2 points
nick clegg's treatment of the ward incident is appalling

clegg's lack of distinction between "friends of israel" and "jews" (or "friends of jews") shows exactly the same mindset as ward's

and ward's lies about "atrocities" and "ethnic cleansing" have not only not been criticised, they have been validated by clegg, as "legitimately held views" …

Nick wished it to be quite clearly understood that the party recognises your right to express your legitimately and sincerely held views on the conditions in which Palestinians live, especially on the West Bank and in Gaza.

ward's "punishment" is to receive instruction on how to lie about israel without being called racist

(see also http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21605814 and for a photocopy of the whole letter, see here)
i hope that the lib dem friends of israel will immediately tell clegg that they refuse to have anything to do with this: that clegg's job is to protect the party's reputation by suspending or expelling ward, not by praising his sincerity and assisting him in getting away with it next time

it is not the job of the lib dem friends of israel to defend jews

it is certainly not the job of the lib dem friends of israel to help ward attack israel

ward is not some 15-year-old burglar who doesn't appreciate the distress a burglary causes (eg he thinks the victims claim on their insurance, get new stuff, and then forget about it) until he meets his victims and has it spelled out to him

ward knows perfectly well what distress he is causing … and intending to cause

and anyway, clegg has not required ward to accept instruction on the distress caused by his racism …

he is required only to accept instruction on …

"language that will be proportionate and precise in your future interventions in this debate" …

any lesson on distress is something clegg expects him to work out for himself …

We would also hope that this would allow you to achieve a better understanding of the legitimate concern that your comments has caused within the wider Jewish community.

this is an internal cover-up that the lib dem friends of israel are expected to take part in

(btw, "legitimate" concern? a jewish concern as "legitimate" as what clegg describes as ward's "legitimately held" views on "atrocities" and "ethnic cleansing"?)

meanwhile, other liberal democrats who are dismayed at ward's racism are effectively muzzled … since the disciplinary proceedings are still pending, the matter is sub judice, and they could be disciplined themselves if they comment

it is unfortunately necessary for all three parties to have a separate "friends of israel"

i hope it is not about to become necessary for the liberal democrats to have a separate "friends of jews"

happygoldfish

Fri, 03/01/2013 - 10:46

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2 points
i'm pleased to note the rejection by ldfi of nick clegg's decision to refer david ward to them

although yestesrday morning gavin stollar (ldfi chair) said …

LDFI has essentially been appointed as probation officers for David Ward," said Mr Stollar. "If we are not convinced that he is salvageable then we'll be in the position to report back to the leader and the chief whip and express our views.
Rather than making him a martyr, LDFI welcomes the opportunity to educate one of our MPs.

by yesterday evening this had changed to …

I regret to inform you that despite assurances to the contrary, the offending statement is still live on David Ward's website (three days after you were given assurances of its removal and over a month since it was first made).
I think this demonstrates in no uncertain terms David Ward's genuine views despite, I know, your best efforts to explain why the language and timing of his statement were so offensive and repugnant.
Ward has thus failed to comply with the undertakings he gave you. In those circumstances LDFI must refer the matter back to you with a strong recommendation of further disciplinary action.

it is regrettable that nick clegg's lack of judgment prevented him from seeing that as inevitable

happygoldfish

Fri, 03/01/2013 - 16:02

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2 points
hmm … david ward is now effectively accusing lib dem chief whip alistair carmichael of lying

from today's bradford telegraph and argus (at 7.00am, so presumably recording an interview yesterday evening) …

The Bradford East MP insisted no such punishment had been imposed …
Mr Ward also said it was his understanding that any disciplinary process was now over – despite the Lib Dem chief whip stating it was merely “adjourned”.
And he spoke of his “anger” at the way the issue had been handled …,
The MP told the T&A: “I’m very disappointed and angry about this, because what has been said does not reflect what I believe was decided.
“And, as someone who has run race awareness classes, I find the idea that I have been sent on some sort of correctionary course to be patronising and quite offensive.”
“The way the party deals with complaints needs to be looked at. I have never been shown any evidence that there was an original complaint against me”

happygoldfish

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 19:02

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1 point
well that was quick!

and now all is silence!

a psalm for the liberal democrat party

SWIFT AND SILENT

How swift and silent is thy sacrifice!

It is like the wind

It was, and it is gone

It is a striving after nothing

People say, I felt it but it is no more

May all who believe in it be like it!

A principle is sacrificed

Memory of memories

Swift and silent

Rich Armbach

Fri, 03/08/2013 - 16:17

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-1 points

Must ?

Rich Armbach

Fri, 03/29/2013 - 10:37

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-1 points

by the lie he told, about "atrocities"

Will you be campaigning in respect of the lying in the UCU tribunal case ?

happygoldfish

Wed, 04/03/2013 - 12:11

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2 points

Rich Armbach: by the lie he told, about "atrocities"
Will you be campaigning in respect of the lying in the UCU tribunal case ?

liberal democrat mp david ward's lie about "
jews … inflciting atrocites on Palestinians … and continue to do so on a daily basis in the West Bank and Gaza

" was a racist lie, and a lie likely to stir up racial hatred

the alleged lies in the ucu case were not racist lies, and were not likely to stir up racial hatred

unfortunately, there are racists on this website who instead of condemning racist speech draw attention away from it either by comparing it with other, non-racist, speech or by criticising the person drawing attention to the racist speech

how odd that you are copying them (including a spurious criticism against me of inconsistency)!

that's rich!

joemillis1959

Mon, 04/08/2013 - 17:57

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-1 points

Who will rid us of this disciple of Onan?

happygoldfish

Tue, 04/23/2013 - 16:19

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0 points
why can't the liberal democrats deal with racism?

is it because they need the seats?

jenny tonge was sacked, reinstated, sacked, promoted to permanent membership of the house of lords, and finally resigned from the party …

how much longer would it have gone on if she hadn't resigned?

and now the process is starting again with bradford east mp david ward

it is difficult to imagine conservative or labour making such a mess of party discipline

it is almost as if the liberal democrats think that racism doesn't really matter!

clegg's attempt to deal with this by informal meetings and vague good intentions (coupled with praise for ward's "legitimately … held views") has completely backfired … david ward now claims that there never was a formal complaint against him, and that whatever proceedings there were have ended

let's apply a little goldfishsense to this …

clegg must start again: he must appoint a formal tribunal of three previously uninvolved party members, to hear as soon as possible a list of formal charges against david ward, possibly:

  • bringing the party into disrepute by comparing the actions of present-day jews with the atrocities of the holocaust

  • bringing the party into disrepute by making manifestly false accusations likely to stir up hatred against a friendly country
  • bringing the party into disrepute by deliberately using holocaust memorial day to issue a statement which was in fact likely to stir up hatred against jews

    • clegg must do this as soon as possible, or his party will become a laughing-stock, and the only safe liberal democrat seat will be bradford east itself

    happygoldfish

    Thu, 04/25/2013 - 09:09

    Rate this:

    2 points
    it's 8 weeks since anything has happened …

    24th jan: liberal democrat mp david ward celebrates holocaust memorial day with a racist lie about atrocities

    28th jan: the lib dem party send him a letter of censure which a spokesman calls "the equivalent of a yellow card"

    he subsequently fails to remove the original offence, and repeats it in other forms

    11th Feb: the chief whip meets him

    12th Feb: nick clegg in parliament says "I am unambiguous in my condemnation of anyone, from whatever party including my own, who uses insensitive, intemperate, provocative and offensive language".

    25th feb: nick clegg (and the chief whip) meets him, "recognises your right to expressyour legitimately and sincerely held views", but says that "generalised condemnation of a whole people" is not "justified", and his remarks were "unacceptable and must not be repeated", and accepts his undertakings to remove certain remarks and to

    26th feb: the chief whip sends him a letter recording the previous day's meeting,

    "At the meeting you undertook to work along with Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel andSimon Hughes MP to identify and agree language that will be proportionate and precise inyour future interventions in this debate. We would also hope that this would allow you toachieve a better understanding of the legitimate concern that your comments has causedwithin the wider Jewish community.
    I am not clear how much time this work will require although it will involve other peoplemaking time available to work with you and their availability is at present unknown. In thecircumstances, therefore, the disciplinary process currently stands adjourned and a date willrequire to be fixed at which progress can be reviewed and it can be concluded."

    28th february: ldfi chair gavin stollar writes to clegg, referring ward's case back to him …

    "Ward has thus failed to comply with the undertakings he gave you. In those circumstances LDFI must refer the matter back to you with a strong recommendation of further disciplinary action."

    28th february: david ward denies (to the bradford telegraph and argus) that any disciplinary procedure happened …

    The Bradford East MP insisted no such punishment had been imposed …
    Mr Ward also said it was his understanding that any disciplinary process was now over …
    "…I have never been shown any evidence that there was an original complaint against me”

    TODAY (25th april, 8 weeks later!):
    NOTHING WHATEVER HAS HAPPENED SINCE!

    happygoldfish

    Thu, 04/25/2013 - 09:53

    Rate this:

    2 points
    matthew harris, when jewish voters look you in the eye and ask you what the lib dems do about racism …

    what will you say?

    jenny tonge was sacked, reinstated, sacked, and eventually promoted to permanent membership of the house of lords …

    david ward is completely immune …

    what sort of party are you in?

    j, harris, and ward … why are you still in the same boat?

    Rich Armbach

    Thu, 04/25/2013 - 13:13

    Rate this:

    -2 points

    yyyyyyyaaaaaaaawwwwwwwn

    joemillis1959

    Mon, 04/29/2013 - 18:34

    Rate this:

    -1 points

    For as long as jose/blacklisted/anthony p/lbnaz etc reposts his rubbish as Happy Goldfish, i will repost this.
    Why can't the JC deal with "Happy Goldfish" who also goes by the names off Lbnaz/Jose/blacklisted d/Anthony p/ etc? They were banned, why not he? He is up to his old colourful multiple posting tricks again and He's having one of his regular Groundfish Days.

    So who will rid us of this disciple of Onan?

    Harvey

    Tue, 05/14/2013 - 14:16

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    0 points

    Oh goodie
    Two despicable racists finally decide to quit .

    http://azvsas.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/time-to-say-goodbye.html?m=1

    http://hurryupharry.org/2013/05/13/lord-ahmed-resigns/

    happygoldfish

    Fri, 05/17/2013 - 17:39

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    1 point

    (joe millis, stop lying about me …
    for reply, see http://www.thejc.com/blogs/jonathan-hoffman/a-stain-on-lse#comment-38735 )

    a pair of tonges? …

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